Measuring container with heat dissipating section

ABSTRACT

A container includes a base and a side wall integrally formed with and extending upwardly from the base to define an interior volume for holding a substance. The side wall and the base are formed of a microwave-safe material. The side wall has an outer side wall surface facing toward ambient and an inner side wall surface facing toward the interior volume. The side wall has a first region in which a wall structure is located offsetting the outer side wall surface on the wall structure from a recessed outer surface, which is offset outwardly from the inner side wall surface and inwardly from the outer side wall surface on the wall structure. The side wall is configured to be gripped by a user&#39;s hand in the first region and the wall structure allows for air pockets to form between the user&#39;s hand and the recessed outer surface.

BACKGROUND

Measuring containers, such as measuring cups, are useful to measure theingredients when following food and beverage recipes. Sometimes theingredients need to be heated. While some measuring containers may beoven or microwave safe, oftentimes an oven mitt or similar heatinsulating device is used to grip the measuring container since theexterior of the container can become very hot.

There are also measuring containers that do not have a handle. Somemeasuring containers that do not have handles are made from a flexiblematerial so that the container can be squeezed to provide a morepronounced spout, which aids in pouring contents from the measuringcontainer. These containers have a certain drawback in that they canrequire the use of oven mitts or the like to handle when thesecontainers have been heated in a microwave oven. Measuring the propervolume of contents within the measuring container can also be difficultdue to the types of materials used to make these measuring containers orthe finishing of the surfaces of the measuring containers.

SUMMARY

An example of a container that may overcome at least one of theaforementioned shortcomings includes a base and a side wall integrallyformed with and extending upwardly from the base to define an interiorvolume for holding a substance. The side wall and the base are formed ofa microwave-safe material. The side wall has an outer side wall surfacefacing toward ambient and an inner side wall surface facing toward theinterior volume. The side wall has a first region in which a wallstructure is located offsetting the outer side wall surface on the wallstructure from a recessed outer surface, which is offset outwardly fromthe inner side wall surface and inwardly from the outer side wallsurface on the wall structure. The side wall is configured to be grippedby a user's hand in the first region and the wall structure allows forair pockets to form between the user's hand and the recessed outersurface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front upper perspective view of a container.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of the container depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view (showing an opposite side as that shownin FIG. 1) of the container shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the container depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A container 10 that can be useful for measuring contents when followinga recipe, as well as for other uses, includes a base 12 and a side wall14 integrally formed with and extending upwardly from the base to definean interior volume 16 for holding a substance. The container 10, whichis made up of the side wall 14 and the base 12, is formed from amicrowave-safe material, such as a silicone material capable of beingheated to 450 degrees F. (232 degrees C.) without impacting aperformance of the material. The microwave-safe material from which thecontainer 10 is made is sufficiently resilient so that the side wall 14deforms when being squeezed by a user's hand and returns to itsoriginal, also referred to as undeformed, shape when no longer beingsqueezed. The resiliency of the side wall 14 and that it can deformfacilitates pouring contents from the container 10.

With reference to FIG. 4, the side wall 14 has an outer side wallsurface 20 that faces toward ambient and an inner side wall surface 22facing toward the interior volume 16. With reference back to FIG. 1, theside wall 14 also includes a first region 24 in which a plurality ofrecesses 26 are formed. With reference back to FIG. 4, each recess 26extends from the outer side wall surface 20 toward the inner side wallsurface 22 to a recessed outer surface 28. The recessed outer surface 28faces ambient similar to the outer side wall surface 20. The recessedouter surface 28 is offset outwardly from the inner side wall surface 22and inwardly from the outer side wall surface 20. The side wall 14 isconfigured to be gripped by a user's hand in the first region 24, whichcontains the plurality of recesses 26. The plurality of recesses 26allow for air pockets to form between the user's hand and the recessedouter surface 28. Since the container 10 could be made from a siliconemicrowave-safe material, when the container 10 is used to heat fattysubstances, such as butter, the container 10, and especially the sidewall 14, can get hot. The plurality of recesses 26 can allow thecontainer 10 to be handled more quickly out of the microwave ovenbecause of the formation of the air pockets between the user's hand andthe recessed outer surface 28.

In the illustrated embodiment, each recess 26 is partially surrounded bya wall structure 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the plurality ofrecesses 26 and the wall structure 32 are provided in a honeycombpattern. As illustrated, each recess 26 is six-sided; however, therecesses could take other configurations, such as circular, triangular,rectangular or other polygonal shapes. Also, the wall structure 32 couldbe provided in different patterns so long as the wall structure 32offsets the outer side wall surface 20 from the recessed outer surface28 so as to form an air pocket between the user's hand and the recessedouter surface 28 when the user grips the side wall 14 in the regioncontaining the wall structure. As more clearly seen in FIG. 4, the wallstructure 32 includes recess side surfaces 34 extending outwardly fromthe recessed outer surface 28 to the outer side wall surface 20. In theillustrated embodiment, six recess side surfaces 34 surround each recess26, but fewer or greater number of recess side surfaces 34 can beprovided where the shape of the recess 26 takes another configuration.

The first region 24 circumferentially surrounds a majority of the sidewall 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the side wall 14 does notcircumferentially surround the entire side wall. Rather, the side wall14 includes a second region 40 that is devoid of the wall structure 32and the plurality of recesses 26. With reference to FIG. 6, the sidewall 14 is centered with respect to a vertical central axis 42. Theperimeter of the side wall 14 is dimensioned to be comfortably grippedby an adult woman's hand, thus obviating the need for a handle. As mostclearly seen in FIG. 6, the first region 24 of the side wall 14surrounds about 270 degrees of the side wall 14 to provide a largegripping region for the container 10. The first region 24 has a heightH1, which is parallel with the vertical central axis 42, that is nearlyas great as, e.g., at least 90 percent of, the maximum height H2 of theside wall 14, which is the distance between a lower surface 44 of thebase 12 and an uppermost location on an upper rim 46 of the side wall14. The large surface area of the first region 24 not only facilitatesheat dissipation, but also provides a large viewing window based ondifferences in opacity between the surfaces of the container 10, whichwill be described in more detail below.

The second region 40, which is devoid of the plurality of recesses 26,surrounds the first region 24 and can be located above an upper boundary50 (only shown as a dashed line in FIG. 3) and beneath a lower boundary52 (only shown as a dashed line in FIG. 3) of the first region 24. Thesecond region 40 can also be located in between a first axial (vertical)boundary 54 and a second axial (vertical) boundary 56 (only shown as adashed lines in FIGS. 3 and 5) of the first region 24.

The outer side wall surface 20 of the side wall 14 in the second region40 is coextensive with the outer side wall surface 20 of the side wall14 within the first region 24, which results in a material savings. Ascan be seen in FIG. 6, the outer side wall surface 20 is circular in across section taken normal to the vertical central axis 42. A thickness60 of the side wall 14 measured in the second region 40 of the side wallis equal to a thickness 62 of the side wall 14 measured in the firstregion 24 of the side wall through the wall structure 32. In contrast, athickness 64 measured in the first region 24 of the side wall 14 betweenthe recessed outer surface 28 and the inner side wall surface 22 is lessthan the thickness 60 of the side wall 14 in the second region 40 or thethickness 62 of the side wall 14 in the first region 24 through the wallstructure 32. The honeycomb pattern of the wall structure 32 in thefirst region 24 can provide sufficient rigidity to maintain the desiredshape of the side wall 14.

The side wall 14 can also include a third region 70 which can also bedevoid of the wall structure 32 and the plurality of recesses 26. Theside wall 14 terminates at the upper rim 46 having a depression 72 forforming a pour spout, and at least a portion of the third region 70 iscircumferentially aligned with and disposed beneath the depression 72.Graduation marks 74 can be provided on the outer side wall surface 20within the third region 70. The height H3 (measured in the axialdirection) of the third region 70 can be as great as or greater than theheight H1 of the first region 24.

As mentioned above, the material from which the container 10 is made issufficiently resilient in the side wall 14 to allow the the side wall 14to deform when being squeezed by the user's hand and to return to anundeformed shape when no longer being squeezed. With respect to FIG. 7,a channel 80, which can be in the form of an elongate depression formedin the side wall 14, aligns with the depression 72 formed at the upperrim 46. The depression 72 and the channel 80 are circumferentiallyequidistantly spaced between the first axial (vertical) boundary 54 andthe second axial (vertical) boundary 56 of the first region 24. As such,when a user grips the first region 24 so that the user's thumb is nearthe first axial boundary 54 and fingertips are near the second axialboundary 56, or vice versa, and squeezes the side wall 14, the side wall14 is encouraged to bend in a manner to provide a more pronounced spoutat the depression 72 and the channel 80. This action facilitates pouringliquid from the container 10.

While the side wall 14 is configured to be resilient and flexed, thebase 12 is not as resilient as the side wall. With reference to FIG. 7,a thickness 82 of the base 12 is greater than thicknesses 60, 62 and 64(see FIG. 6) in the side wall 14. As such, the base 12 tends not to flexunder normal operating conditions of a user gripping the first region 24forming the pour spout with the depression 72 and the channel 80.

The side wall 14 is more opaque in at least a portion of the secondregion 40 as compared to the recessed outer surface 28, which isprovided in each recess 26. The side wall 14 in the recessed outersurface 28 can be substantially clear or transparent so that thecontents of the container 10 are viewable through the recesses 26. Sincethe second region is so large, the clear recessed outer surfaces 28provide an overall large viewing window. In a second region 40, however,the side wall 14 is more opaque than the recessed outer surface 28. Theside wall 14 is more opaque also along the outer side wall surface 20 ofthe wall structure 32 as compared to the recessed outer surface 28. Theouter side wall surface 20 along the wall structure 32 in the firstregion 24 and the outer side wall surface 20 in the second region 40 canhave the same opacity. The recess side surfaces 34 can also have thesame opacity as the outer side wall surface 20 along the wall structure32 and the outer side wall surface 20 in the second region 40. This canbe accomplished by a texturing (shown as the stippled regions in FIG. 1only) that can be provided on the outer side wall surface 20 within thesecond region 40 as well as within the first region 24, but only alongthe outer side wall surface of the wall structure 32 and the recess sidesurfaces 34, i.e., the recessed outer surface 28 would not include thistexture. This texturing can also facilitate gripping of the container,especially when the container is used with slippery materials. The thirdregion 70 can have the same opacity as the recessed outer surface 28. Asmentioned above, the third region 70 includes graduation marks 74provided on the outer side wall surface 20. The third region 70 can betranslucent or clear to facilitate viewing the contents within thecontainer and comparing the contents to the graduation marks provided onthe third region.

A container that can be useful in measuring contents has been describedabove with particularity. Only one size container is shown, however thecontainer can take many different volumes. Furthermore, othermodifications and alterations may occur to those upon reading andunderstanding the preceding detailed description. The invention,however, is not limited to only the embodiments described above.Instead, the invention is broadly defined by the appended claims and theequivalents thereof.

1. A container comprising: a base; and a side wall integrally formedwith and extending upwardly from the base to define an interior volumefor holding a substance, the side wall and the base being formed from amicrowave-safe material; the side wall having an outer side wall surfacefacing toward ambient and an inner side wall surface facing toward theinterior volume, the side wall having a first region in which a wallstructure is located offsetting the outer side wall surface on the wallstructure from a recessed outer surface, which is offset outwardly fromthe inner side wall surface and inwardly from the outer side wallsurface on the wall structure, wherein the side wall is configured to begripped by a user's hand in the first region and the wall structureallows for air pockets to form between the user's hand and the recessedouter surface.
 2. The container of claim 1, wherein the side wallincludes a second region devoid of the wall structure.
 3. The containerof claim 2, wherein the side wall is more opaque in at least a portionof the second region as compared to the recessed outer surface.
 4. Thecontainer of claim 2, wherein the side wall is more opaque in at least aportion of the second region and along the wall structure as compared tothe recessed outer surface.
 5. The container of claim 2, wherein theside wall includes a third region also being devoid of the wallstructure, wherein the side wall is more opaque in the second region andalong the wall structure as compared to the third region.
 6. Thecontainer of claim 5, wherein the third region is as translucent as therecessed outer surface.
 7. The container of claim 6, wherein the sidewall terminates at an upper rim having a depression for forming a pourspout, wherein at least a portion of the third region iscircumferentially aligned with and disposed beneath the depression. 8.The container of claim 7, wherein the second region surrounds the thirdregion.
 9. The container of claim 5, wherein the second region surroundsthe third region.
 10. The container of claim 2, wherein a thickness ofthe side wall measured in the second region of the side wall is equal toa thickness of the side wall measured in the first region of the sidewall through the wall structure.
 11. The container of claim 1, whereinthe outer side wall surface is circular in a cross section taken normalto a central vertical axis of the container.
 12. The container of claim1, wherein the wall structure includes recess side surfaces extendingoutwardly from the recessed outer surface to the outer side wallsurface.
 13. The container of claim 12, wherein the recess side surfacesat least partially surround respective recesses.
 14. The container ofclaim 13, wherein the outer side wall surface along the wall structureis textured to be more opaque than the recessed outer surface.
 15. Thecontainer of claim 14, wherein the side wall includes a second regiondevoid of the wall structure, wherein the outer side wall surface in thesecond region is also textured similarly to the recess side surfaces andthe outer side wall surface along the wall structure.
 16. The containerof claim 15, wherein the side wall also includes a third region alsobeing devoid of the wall structure, wherein the third region is astranslucent as the recessed outer surface.
 17. The container of claim16, further comprising graduation marks provided on the outer side wallsurface within the third region.
 18. The container of claim 1, whereinthe microwave-safe material from which the side wall and the base wallis made is sufficiently resilient in the side wall to deform the sidewall when being squeezed by the user's hand and return to an undeformedshape when no longer being squeezed.
 19. A container comprising: a base;and a side wall integrally formed with and extending upwardly from thebase to define an interior volume for holding a substance, the side walland the base being formed from a microwave-safe material; the side wallhaving an outer side wall surface facing toward ambient and an innerside wall surface facing toward the interior volume, the side wallhaving a first region in which a wall structure is located offsettingthe outer side wall surface on the wall structure from a recessed outersurface, which is offset outwardly from the inner side wall surface andinwardly from the outer side wall surface on the wall structure, whereinthe side wall is configured to be gripped by a user's hand in the firstregion and the wall structure allows for air pockets to form between theuser's hand and the recessed outer surface, wherein the side wallincludes a second region devoid of the wall structure, wherein the sidewall is more opaque in at least a portion of the second region and alongthe wall structure as compared to the recessed outer surface, whereinthe side wall includes a third region also being devoid of the wallstructure, wherein the side wall is more opaque in the second region andalong the wall structure as compared to the third region, wherein thesecond region surrounds the third region and graduation marks areprovided within the third region.
 20. A container comprising: a base;and a side wall integrally formed with and extending upwardly from thebase to define an interior volume for holding a substance, the side walland the base being formed from a microwave-safe material; the side wallhaving an outer side wall surface facing toward ambient and an innerside wall surface facing toward the interior volume, the side wallhaving a first region in which a wall structure is located offsettingthe outer side wall surface on the wall structure from a recessed outersurface, which is offset outwardly from the inner side wall surface andinwardly from the outer side wall surface on the wall structure, whereinthe side wall is configured to be gripped by a user's hand in the firstregion and the wall structure allows for air pockets to form between theuser's hand and the recessed outer surface, wherein the side wallincludes a second region devoid of the wall structure, wherein athickness of the side wall measured in the second region of the sidewall is equal to a thickness of the side wall measured in the firstregion of the side wall through the wall structure, and a thickness ofthe side wall in the first region measured between the recessed outersurface and the inner side wall surface is less than the thickness ofthe side wall in the first region of the side wall through the wallstructure.